Implementing Ecosystem-based adaptation in Mesoamerica: lessons learned for policy makers

1. Implementing Ecosystem-based adaptation in Mesoamerica: lessons learned for policy makers Rocío Córdoba Marta Pérez de Madrid

2. EbAbuildsadaptationsolutionsforwaterresourcesmanagement - Resilientecosystemservices and natural infraestructure - Reduces the vulnerability of local communities to climate change. • Through considering the ecosystem services on which people depend to adapt to climate change • EbA integrates sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in a comprehensiveadaptationstrategy.

3. IUCN demonstration actions • Transboundary basins • Micro-basin and basin level • Opportunities of natural infrastructure • Building resilience of ecosystems • Building capacities for good water governance • Consensus building: strengthening water platforms • Learning by doing

4. Improved policy and institutional environment in pilot sites Buildingdiscourse Decisionsupportknowledge base Water and climate change governance mechanisms CRiSTAL Capacitybuilding Adaptationactionplans in demostrationsites Participation Climatescenarios and livelihoods Social plattforms Governacearrangements

5. Mesoamerica: lessons learned for policy makers

7. AdaptationStrategy for Mid Sixaola watershed

8. Adaptationstrategy for YorkínMicrowatershed

9. BOTTOM-UP TOP-DOWN What are thekeyimpacts of climatechange at longterm? How much can adaptation reduce the negative effects of climate change? What could a country or community do to adapt to climate change? How to improve the development and enforcement of adaptation policies? Regional National Municipal Comunal

10. Action for a learning approach • Learning by doing: not waiting for the perfect plan • Making the complex manageable in practice NATIONAL POLICY • Quantify the dividends & make it pay • Define values, rights & responsibilities • Embrace water as politics PROGRAMME BASIN • Learn, adapt & innovate along the way • Focus on capacity building LOCAL PROJECT • Results on the ground • Owners, actors & beneficiaries

11. Discourse building in Ecosystem based Adaptation and good water governance. International • Policy Dialogue for Water and Adaptation: Active technical support since November 2010 • Result: Ecosystem based adaptation solutions, from the demonstration sites, are included in the Americas inventoryon water and adaptation. A chapter on the role of ecosystems in adaptation was included in the position paper of the Dialogue.

12. Discourse building in Ecosystem based Adaptation and good water governance. Regional • Estado de la Región:discussiontoinclude IWRM as anadaptationtoclimatechangestrategy • Result: The chapter on Climate Change mentions drought as a significant recurrent hazard in Central America which poses important development challenges, and considers IWRM as an adaptation strategy.

13. Discourse building in Ecosystem based Adaptation and good water governance. National El Salvador. Meetings with the Minister of Environment of El Salvador, the Vice President Office and the Trifinio Secretariat, as well as a capacity building program Result: a national program to reduce vulnerability in the coastal area will include ecosystems. Río Paz is one of the target coastal areas. Costa Rica. IUCN and the project team could bring the results of the demonstration sites on EbA to the decision level regarding the climate change planning. Result: The national Plan of Climate change includes in the Water Resources Chapter a result to increase the resilience of ecosystems, starting in the most vulnerable areas of the country. Mexico. State Law on Climate Change – discussion with policy makers Result: The Law includes ecosystem based adaptation

14. Discourse building in Ecosystem based Adaptation and good water governance. Basin and microbasin level • COATAN: Buena Vista Microbasin Committee: communication channel with the basin level and the local communities. • SUMPUL: Support for the conformation of a binational committee for the sub-basin, shared among El Salvador and Honduras • Río PAZ: Support on capacity building to the Technical Committee for the recovery of the Ahuachapan area. • SIXAOLA: BinationalSixaola Basin Comission • SIXAOLA: Quebrada Rosa microwatershed committee first recognized officially

15. Lessons learned • Ecosystem Based Adaptation well understood by decision makers from local to national to transboundary levels • Long term process: climate change adaption is still an “emergency issue” not planning exercise • There is no good governance without rights and participation of MSP (municipalities play a key role) • Ownership processes are essential for transparent and inclusive decision making / Water security: mgt, less vuln., water value, ecosy.prot. • Learning by doing: from discourse to action • Big challenge: how to include local experiences into national and international policies

16. Thankyou More information: rocio.cordoba@iucn.org